Cultural Humility vs Cultural Competence (2 CEU's)

DIVERSITY, IDENTITY & CULTURAL HUMILITY

Cultural Humility vs Cultural Competence 2 CEUs

Overview:

Cultural competence has long been emphasized as a goal in clinical practice; however, it can unintentionally suggest that culture can be fully learned, mastered, or checked off as a completed skill set. In contrast, cultural humility emphasizes an ongoing process of self-reflection, openness, and recognition of power dynamics within the therapeutic relationship. For clinicians working with diverse populations, understanding the distinction between these approaches is essential for providing responsive, ethical, and effective care.

In this presentation, Dr. Zairys Feliz, Ph.D., LCSW, will guide participants in examining the differences between cultural competence and cultural humility and how each framework impacts clinical practice. Attendees will explore how therapist identity, bias, and systemic factors influence the therapeutic relationship, as well as how rigid or overly confident approaches to “competence” can create barriers to connection.

Emphasis will be placed on developing cultural humility as an active, relational process that supports curiosity, accountability, and responsiveness to clients’ lived experiences. Participants will learn practical, evidence-informed strategies to engage in ongoing self-reflection, navigate cultural differences in session, and respond to relational ruptures in a way that strengthens therapeutic alliance.

Objectives:

• Analyze the differences between cultural competence and cultural humility in clinical practice.

• Identify how therapist identity, bias, and power dynamics impact the therapeutic relationship.

• Apply strategies to develop cultural humility through self-reflection, responsiveness, and relational engagement.

Scope and Limitations Disclosure

This course provides licensed mental health professionals with an overview of cultural competence and cultural humility as they apply to clinical practice. Participants will learn to integrate ongoing self-reflection and relational awareness into their work with diverse populations. This training does not provide certification in multicultural counseling and is not a substitute for ongoing education, supervision, and consultation in culturally responsive care. Attendees are expected to apply the material within their professional scope of practice, ethical guidelines, and licensure requirements.

Financial and Commercial Disclosure

The presenter has no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. Any references to therapeutic models, interventions, or resources are provided solely for educational purposes. Participants are not required to purchase any additional materials to complete this course.

Refund Policy – Pre-Recorded (Self-Study) CE Courses

All purchases of pre-recorded (self-study) CE courses are subject to this refund policy. By enrolling, you agree to these terms. Participants who have not accessed any portion of the course may request a full refund within 7 days of purchase. Once a course has been accessed, streamed, or downloaded, refunds are no longer available due to immediate access to course materials. Refunds will also not be issued to participants who do not complete the course, fail the required post-test, or do not meet participation requirements, as certificates are only awarded upon successful completion. If you experience verified technical issues that prevent access, we will make reasonable efforts to resolve the problem; if it cannot be resolved, a full or partial refund may be issued. If you believe the course did not meet its stated learning objectives, you may submit a written complaint within 7 days of completion for review, and a partial or full refund may be granted at our discretion. All course purchases are non-transferable and may not be shared, resold, or assigned to another individual.